"Understanding the Future of Sustainable
Energy"
Challenges
Climate Change
Pollution
-Ozone
-Acid Rain
-Sulfur dioxide
-Particulate Matter
-Nitrogen Oxides
-Carbon Monoxide
Energy Standard
Scale
Economic
National Security
Ozone is not generally emitted directly into the air, but at ground-level is created by a chemical reaction between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the presence of sunlight. Ozone is sometimes called photochemical oxidant.
In the earth's lower atmosphere, ground-level ozone is considered "bad." Motor vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions, gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents as well as natural sources emit NOx and VOC that chemically react in the presence of sunlight to form ozone. Many urban areas tend to have high levels of "bad" ozone particularly during the summer when sunlight is in excess to promote ozone formation.
"Good" ozone occurs naturally in the stratosphere approximately 10 to 30 miles above the earth's surface and forms a layer that protects life on earth from the sun's harmful rays.
Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health problems including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion. It can worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. Ground-level ozone also can reduce lung function and inflame the linings of the lungs. Repeated exposure may permanently scar lung tissue. In addition, ground-level ozone can have detrimental effects on plants and the ecosystem.
(Information adopted from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Header: Molecular structure of O3 (Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ozone-1%2C3-dipole.png)